Nuvo Elevate 6.6 (BA-6640) — Six Source, Six Zone Audio Distribution System Installation Manual

Installation Manual for the Nuvo/Breatheaudio Elevate 6.6 (BA-6640) Six Source, Six Zone Audio Distribution System — a whole-home audio amplifier with expandable zones, dedicated keypads, IR emitter control, and RS-232 automation integration.

Important Safety Instructions

• Hearing safety: extended exposure to high sound levels can cause permanent hearing loss. OSHA permissible exposure limits: 90dB (8 hrs), 93dB (6 hrs), 95dB (4 hrs), 97dB (3 hrs), 100dB (2 hrs), 103dB (1 hr). Use hearing protection if operating this system at high volumes.
• Read and retain all safety/operating instructions; do not use near water.
• Clean only with a dry cloth; do not block ventilation openings.
• Keep away from heat sources; do not defeat the polarized/grounding plug.
• Protect the power cord from being pinched or walked on.
• Unplug during lightning storms or extended non-use.
• Refer all servicing to qualified personnel — no user-serviceable parts inside.

Overview

The Elevate 6.6 is a 6-source, 6-zone whole-home audio system, expandable to 12 zones with the optional expander package.

BA-6640MS Package Contents

• 1x BA-6640M 6-source, 6-zone amplifier
• 6x BA-6640KP keypads with white, ivory, almond, and black inserts/trim plates
• 1x BA-6640AP Allport Connection Hub
• 1x BA-6640APC Allport Cable
• 6x BA-VEC visible LED IR emitters
• 1x BA-NC1 network cable
• 1 pr. BA-REM double-space rack ear mounts
• 1x BA-PC2-NA power cable (North America only)

BA-6640XS Expander Package Contents

• 1x BA-6640X 6-zone expander amplifier
• 6x BA-6640KP keypads
• 1x BA-6640AP Allport Connection Hub
• 1x BA-DLC 15-pin Digital Link Cable
• 1x BA-SLC1 26-pin Source Link Cable
• 1x BA-NC3 3-foot black Network Cable
• 1 pr. BA-REM double-space rack ear mounts
• 1x BA-PC2-NA power cable

Front Panel

• Power Button: the amplifier is designed to stay on continuously; each zone is then turned on/off independently. Turn on before making external connections to activate internal protective circuitry.
• Stand By LED: blue LED, lit when plugged into AC power.
• Zone Status LEDs: indicate whether each zone's keypad has been activated.

Keypad Features

• Volume Level LEDs: indicate the current zone volume.
• Power: toggles that zone on/off; press and hold to turn all zones off simultaneously.
• Volume Buttons: independent volume control per zone.
• IR Receiver: wireless control of source equipment.
• Mute: temporarily silences that zone.
• Source Selection Buttons: choose any of the six connected sources; the active source stays lit.

Back Panel Connections

• Audio Source Inputs (1-6): accepts line-level audio sources.
• Source Link: multi-pin connector transferring audio to the expander amplifier (12-zone expansion only).
• Variable Lineout: for zones needing extra amplification with keypad-controlled volume.
• Fixed Lineout: for zones needing extra amplification with separate volume control.
• Zone Triggers: 12V output per zone when that zone is on, for triggering external equipment.
• Emitter Outputs: repeat IR signals from a zone keypad to source equipment — six source-specific outputs plus two "sum" outputs (fire regardless of selected source).
• Speaker Outputs: individual stereo outputs per zone, 20W per channel, via the unique single-termination Allport cable.
• System On: constant 12V output whenever any zone is on.
• External Mute: mutes all audio when the phone or doorbell rings.
• Network Input (RJ-45): carries zone information from all keypads; uses the supplied Network Cable.
• Digital Link: multi-pin connector transferring digital info to the expander amplifier (12-zone expansion).
• RS-232 Port: two-way serial communication for home automation control.
• AC Power: detachable power cable.

I. Prewire

Uses CAT5 cable for keypad control and 2- or 4-conductor 16-gauge speaker wire, all home-run from each zone to the amplifier location. System accommodates 2,000 total feet of CAT5; no single run should exceed 250 feet. Use standard EIA/TIA 568A or 568B wiring. A quality crimp tool and CAT5 tester (or the BA-AWT1 Allport Tester) are strongly recommended.

CAT5 Crimping Steps (EIA 568A pinout)

1. Strip 2-3 inches of insulation, exposing the four twisted pairs.
2. Untwist and fan out the wires per the 568A color order: 1. Green/White stripe, 2. Green, 3. Orange/White stripe, 4. Blue, 5. Blue/White stripe, 6. Orange, 7. Brown/White stripe, 8. Brown.
3. Flatten and trim the wires evenly to about ½" length.
4. Insert wires into the RJ45 connector so each sits in its own slot and touches the end of the connector; the jacket should extend beyond the crimp point.
5. Crimp firmly with the tool (ratchet-type tools stop clicking when fully seated).
6. Verify the RJ45 is firmly crimped and the color scheme is identical on both ends of the wire.

II. Installing the Amplifier

Place the amplifier in the same location as the audio source equipment (rack, entertainment center, or dedicated closet). Plug in and press the front-panel power button before making other connections, to activate protective circuitry.

Terminating Speaker Wire

Each zone's speaker wire terminates at the Allport's six screw-down terminals (Left−, Left+, Right−, Right+). Use 2- or 4-conductor 16-gauge wire (larger than 14-gauge won't fit). Strip ~1/4" (4mm) of insulation from each conductor, insert into the correct terminal, and tighten the screw. Keep exposed wire ends from touching adjacent conductors to avoid shorting. Each output supports two 8-ohm speakers — overloading can cause overheating and damage.

III. Installing the BA-6640AP Allport

The Allport is a multi-connection hub accepting all CAT5 and speaker wires from the system's keypads. Both the main (BA-6640MS) and expander (BA-6640XS) systems include an Allport for up to six zones each; connect two Allports with a short CAT5 jumper for full 12-zone systems. Fits a standard dual-gang "mud ring" bracket. Plug terminated CAT5 wires into any available RJ-45 jack (order doesn't matter, but label by zone), then screw the Allport into its bracket.

IV. Connecting the Allport to the Amplifier

Once wall-mounted, only the Allport faceplate is visible (25-pin connector plus single RJ45 jack). Connect the supplied Allport Cable and pre-terminated network cable into the Speaker Signal and Network connections on the back of the amplifier.

V. Attaching Audio Source Equipment

Connect each audio source via standard stereo RCA cables from its output to the corresponding numbered source input on the amplifier's back panel.

VI. Connecting the IR Emitters

Six mini IR mouse emitters transfer IR commands from the amplifier to source equipment — plug each into its corresponding source IR output and place it over the IR receiver window on that component. The two SUM outputs flash IR commands from any zone (useful with a general-purpose IR blaster via a mono 1/8" patch cable into the blaster's Direct IR input).

VII. Expanding to 12 Zones

Add six more zones using the Elevate 6.6 Expander package. Connect the Source Link and Digital Link multi-pin outputs on the main amplifier to the corresponding inputs on the expander amplifier using the supplied cables. Terminate zones 7-12 speakers into the Expander Allport the same way as zones 1-6. Use the supplied BA-NC3 Network Cable as a jumper from the Expander Allport to the Main Allport, combining all keypad CAT5 connections at the main amplifier. The Expander Allport's "Network" RJ-45 jack is not used. No other connections are needed besides AC power for the expander.

VIII. Installing the Keypads

Each keypad has a rotary zone-address switch on the back (accessed with a small flat screwdriver). Zones 1-9 use switch positions 1-9; zones 10-12 use positions A, B, C. Positions D, E, F, and 0 are for additional keypads in zones 1-4. Each keypad must have a unique zone address, or the system will not function properly. Set the address before plugging in the CAT5 cable — the system won't recognize an address change made while the keypad is connected.

IX. Keypad Zone Settings

Access special zone functions by pressing MUTE + a Source button (1-5) simultaneously. The corresponding source button flashes while in function-set mode; press it again to return to normal control.

• Bass EQ (Mute + Source 1): adjust with Volume Up/Down; LEDs show the level from -8dB to +8dB in steps.
• Treble EQ (Mute + Source 2): same process as bass.
• Source Grouping (Mute + Source 3): lets multiple zones share the same source selection while retaining independent volume/on-off. Volume Up enables grouping; Volume Down disables it (zone reverts to independent operation).
• All On / Party Mode (Mute + Source 4): makes that keypad the master for up to 12 zones — controlling on/off, volume, and source for all other zones. The master's volume LED flashes continuously at a preset -60dB starting level; other zones can still override locally by changing source, volume, or power. Repeat the sequence to turn off Master Mode.
• Volume Reset (Mute + Source 5): toggles whether a zone turns on at its previous volume level (default) or always resets to a low -60dB level on power-up. Volume LED at far left = reset off; far right = reset on.

X. Using Fixed and Variable Lineouts

The first four zones each have two 3.5mm mini stereo outputs (fixed and variable) for adding external amplification (e.g. the Nuvo/Breatheaudio BA-200 200W auxiliary amplifier), plus a 12V zone trigger for automatically switching that external amp on/off with the zone.

• Variable Lineout: audio level tracks the zone keypad's volume — used when the additional amplifier's speakers should follow the keypad volume exactly.
• Fixed Lineout: audio signal is unaffected by keypad volume — appropriate when the additional speakers need their own separate volume control (e.g. outdoor zones).

BA-200 Auxiliary Amplifier & RS-232

The BA-200 200W auxiliary amplifier connects to the Elevate 6.6's fixed or variable lineouts via a 1/8" stereo patch cable (or 1/8"-to-RCA). Zone-specific 12V triggers turn the BA-200 on only when that zone is active — connect via a mono 1/8" patch cable from the System On or a specific Zone Trigger output to the BA-200's voltage trigger input.

The RS-232 port enables two-way communication with home automation control systems; a full command-set addendum (RS232, 9600 baud, 8N1, ASCII protocol) is included for integrators, covering zone status queries, power/source/volume/mute control, IR carrier frequency settings, and party-mode/grouping commands.

Troubleshooting

Specifications

BreatheAudio/Nuvo reserves the right to change specifications without notice.

RS-232 Control Interface (Addendum Summary)

For integrators: the BA-6640 supports two-way RS-232 communication (9600 baud, 8N1, no flow control required). Command strings begin with * and end with a carriage return; responses begin with #. Invalid commands return #?. Pause 50ms between queued commands to avoid buffer overruns. On power-up, each zone starts OFF with default zone settings (no override, flat bass/treble, source grouping off, volume reset to -50dB on) unless a connected keypad has stored other settings.

The full addendum documents commands for: reading/setting per-source IR carrier frequency (38kHz default or 56kHz), zone connect/status queries (power, source, group, volume, mute, party master/slave state), and other zone and system control functions — refer to the complete manual for exact command syntax if integrating with a home automation controller.